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Instructor/Advisor

Allison Higgins

Keywords

Endurance athletes, weightlifting, psychological

Abstract

Endurance athletes, such as runners, cyclists, and swimmers, often avoid strength training despite its proven benefits for performance, injury prevention, and recovery. This reluctance is largely driven by psychological factors, including misconceptions about muscle growth, task aversion, and low motivation. Many endurance athletes believe that strength training could interfere with their primary goal of improving aerobic endurance, and they often associate it with unnecessary weight gain or loss of endurance. These misconceptions are compounded by a general dislike or anxiety toward weightlifting, which can lead to avoidance or procrastination. According to self-determination theory, athletes may also resist strength training if they feel it is not aligned with their intrinsic needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness. This paper examines these psychological barriers and discusses how they hinder endurance athletes from adopting strength training. It highlights how cognitive-behavioral strategies and providing athletes with more control over their training choices can help overcome these challenges. The paper also emphasizes that integrating strength training into endurance athletes’ routines could improve performance, reduce injury risks, and enhance recovery. Addressing these psychological barriers is key to helping endurance athletes fully benefit from strength training. Future research and interventions should focus on changing perceptions and motivating athletes to incorporate strength training into their training programs for optimal results.

Understanding Psychological Barriers to Strength Training in Endurance Athletes

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